Allison McIvor has been a teacher within the Novato Unified School District for over 20 years. Allison began teaching instrumental music at San Marin High School in 2012. She currently teaches two jazz bands, a concert band, a string orchestra and conducts the Musical Theater Pit Orchestra. She also oversees the Rock Band program.
San Marin’s instrumental groups have consistently excelled at competitions and festivals, receiving unanimous superior ratings and command performances. These groups have also had the opportunity to visit and perform in some of the most influential music communities in the world including Cuba, New York, and New Orleans.
A Novato native, Allison graduated from Novato High School and went on to study music at Cal State East Bay where she earned her Bachelor’s degree with honors. Following graduation, Allison attended New England Conservatory in Boston and earned her Master’s Degree in Trombone Performance as well as her Massachusetts teaching credential. She is a proud mother of two daughters, both of whom attended San Marin High School
Emily Gates
Music
For 40 yearsEmilyGateshas been teaching students about life through music, having taught all levels K - 12 during this time. She has taught choirs, bands, classroom music, musical theater, and jazz choirs and bands. Her groups have traveled to NYC, Canada, Australia and gone to numerous festivals. She has been names Teacher of the Year in Novato and Marin County, has won a Golden Bell award and was inducted to the Marin Women's Hall of Fame. She also leads a women's group - Mondays@6. She retired several years ago, but still continues to teach vocal music.
Haley McFadden
Drama 1-4,
Technical Theatre, Expanding ELD & AVID 9
Haley McFadden comes to San Marin Drama with an extra passionate drive as, much like her students, she too began her theatre journey right here at San Marin. While in San Marin's theatre program, Haley discovered her love of hair, makeup, and wig design for the stage. She went on to study cosmetology, became a salon owner, and worked in the Atlanta Theatre Community for 11 years. While doing so, she received her Bachelor's of Art Degree in Theatre & Performance Studies from Kennesaw State University in Atlanta, Georgia, studied at the Gaiety School of Acting in Dublin, Ireland, and is now in pursuit of a Master's Degree from San Francisco State University.
Haley's ultimate mission as a theatre teacher is to support each of her students in their process of self-discovery, empowerment, and personal growth. She believes that theatre has the power to hold a mirror to society and our human existence in a way that rarely happens elsewhere and that the stories told on the stage have the ability to promote empathy, kindness, and understanding-- leaving the world a better place with every final bow and every closing curtain.
Haley teaches Drama 1- 4, Technical Theatre 1-4, and Musical Theatre. Her program produces two mainstage productions per year, one Holiday Play, a One-Act Play, and multiple Theatre Showcase events.
Luis Santos
Multimedia Design & AP Computer Science
LuisA.Santosstudied electronic technology, and earned a Master's degree in Multi- Media Design at California State University, Chico. He also minored in music and recording arts. While a student, he produced and composed music for stage performances, wrote one-act plays, and produced mixed media performances that incorporated video, dance performance, computer graphics and animation. He worked in media production in the private sector as a graphic designer, interactive media producer and did freelance multi-media projects. He continues his creative work blending technology and art and has been teaching technology classes, robotics. He taught Advanced Digital Media Art for Envision Academy for Arts and Technology, a PBL school in Oakland.
He is now teaching AP Computer Science Principles and Multimedia Design 1-3 here at San Marin High School.
Eleni Kelley
Art & Design
Visual Arts Chair
Formally known (and ok with forever being known) as Ms. Kats. Mrs. Kelley has been with NUSD for 7 years as of 2020-2021. She spent her first year as a student teacher at Sinaloa. Having studied under the great Mrs. Heyer, she started her career at SM immediately after. For the past 6 years Mrs. Kelley has been involved in athletics, school events, clubs, site and district leadership teams, and more. Her love for her SMHS community and in the Arts Department shows in the passion she puts forth for her curriculum and her students. If your student is someone looking to find their way in a creative field Mrs. Kelleys Art & Design course is a great place for students to learn not only the basics but how to apply them in the real world. Art not your thing? That’s ok! Mrs. Kelley is guaranteed to help you find your own path to understanding and expression through voice and choice projects that range from colored pencils, paint, construction, and more. For more details please send her an email at any time
Jennifer Norman was born and raised in New York City where she often visited the many major museums in the city and attended plays on Broadway. This laid the foundation for her love of the arts. Jennifer received her BA in painting at Northeastern University in Boston with a semester in Italy to focus on figure drawing and she received her MA in Education at Cambridge College, also in Boston. Jennifer has taught HS art in New York and San Francisco and she is excited to teach in San Marin where she feels she has found her home. As a life long learner, Jennifer continues her education by taking courses in varied subjects when she has time and by remembering to take the time to listen and consider the world around her. Finally, Jennifer is a mom to a 2 ½ year old boy who thinks getting dirty while making art is a thrill, just like his Mom.
Scott MacLeod
Journalism 1, 2, 3
English
Now in his tenth year at San Marin, Scott continues to believe that teaching is the hardest job he has ever had – and the best. After graduating cum laude from Harvard with a BA in Philosophy (he also played varsity lacrosse and wrote for the college newspaper), Scott spent nearly 20 years in advertising and marketing, including stints as Senior Vice President at advertising agencies J. Walter Thompson and DDB Worldwide. Following a successful bout with cancer, he made the decision to pursue a path of public service which initially included working with at-risk youth and homeless persons in the Tenderloin and later serving as Director of Development for Breakthrough Collaborative, a national education nonprofit helping high-potential, low-income students get on the path to college. Inspired by the power of education, Scott went to school at night to obtain a Masters degree and teaching credential at the University of San Francisco. Combining his two academic loves, Scott’s Master’s thesis was titled, “Philosophical Inquiry in the High School English Classroom.”